Funding for early-childhood education declined between 2009 and 2010, even as the Obama administration urged states to increase pre-kindergarten programs for 3- and 4-year-olds, according to a study released earlier this week by the National Institute for Early Education Research.

Total state funding for such programs declined by $30 million nationwide as states scrambled to make up for budget shortfalls, according to the the Institute, based at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education.

As reported here by the Washington Post,  the study also states that “Overall, state cuts to pre-K transformed the recession into a depression for many young children.” You can read or download a PDF of The State of Preschool 2010 report here.